What is
Roe v. Wade?

Roe v. Wade is a 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding abortion. Roe v. Wade along with its companion case, Doe v. Bolton, radically changed U.S. law, social policy and culture by creating a federal constitutional right to abortion through all nine months of pregnancy. Roe and Doe struck down all state abortion laws. Since Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton were handed down on January 22, 1973, about 55 million abortions have been performed in the United States.

Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton were decided by a 7-2 vote. Justice Blackmun wrote the majority opinion, joined by Chief Justice Burger and Justices Brennan, Stewart, Marshall and Powell. Justices White and Rehnquist wrote dissenting opinions.

"As a result of the Roe decision, a right to abortion was effectively established for the entire term of pregnancy for virtually any reason, whether for the sake of personal finances, social convenience, or individual lifestyle. . . Thus, the Committee observes that no significant legal barriers of any kind whatsoever exist today in the United States for a woman to obtain an abortion for any reason during any stage of her pregnancy." (Report of the Committee of the Judiciary, United States Senate, on S.J. Res. 110, June 8, 1982, pp 3-4.)

Fast Facts

Universally accepted scientific criteria confirms that life begins at the moment of fertilization. FETAL DEVELOPMENT

According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 1972, the year before abortion was made legal throughout the country, 39 women died from illegal abortions while 24 women died from legal abortions.

Abortion is one of the least regulated industries in our country.

In Michigan, only 4 of 30 surgical abortion clinics are licensed and inspected.

Some abortion clinics in Michigan have operated for decades and have never been inspected.

In numerous cases, abortion clinics have thrown the bodies of aborted babies in common trash
dumpsters.

The abortion industry is not held to the same health and safety standards as other medical providers.

40 Years Too Long

Forty represents the number of years since abortion became legal throughout pregnancy in all 50 states. For too long, women have felt pressured to "choose" abortion feeling there was no other option. Abortion can be a very traumatic experience for both women, men, and other family and friends involved. Many women have spoken out about the harm abortion caused. Men, too, have shared how abortion has negatively impacted them.

But there is hope. If you or someone you know is experiencing an unplanned or crisis pregnancy or would like information about adoption or post-abortion assistance, you do have options. For help, please call:

24-hour toll-free hotline: 1-800-57WOMAN
(1-800-579-6626)

Para español: 1-866-767-2466

For men: 1-877-LIFE OPTIONS
(1-877-543-3678)

Or review our online list of help agencies. The list includes addresses, phone numbers and web sites where available for more than 150 Michigan agencies, two in Northern Indiana and one in Northern Wisconsin. You may sort the list by city or county. GO THERE NOW

You are not alone!

55 Million Too Many

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 44.6% of the women who had abortions in 2008, had obtained an abortion previously in their life. Close to 20% of women who aborted had at least 2 previous abortions. Since 1973 about 55 million abortions have been performed in the United States. About 1 percent of these were performed for reasons of rape and incest. Only 4 percent list "physical problem with my health" as the most important reason for the abortion.

We will never know what the world could have looked like with our missing generations. But we do know that the reality of abortion is gruesome. Photos depicting fetal development and the results of abortion show the harsh truth of "choice." WARNING!!! THESE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE EXTREMELY GRAPHIC.

If you are conflicted on the issue of abortion, please read IF THEY SAY... YOU SAY... and consider prolife responses to the most common arguments in favor of abortion.

What the Future Holds

You can be a part of supporting life! Forty years is too long to accept the life ending choice of abortion. Fifty-five million lives eliminated by the legal option of abortion are too many. Once promoting abortion as "safe, legal and rare," abortion advocates have now dropped the "rare" and replaced it with "regardless of the ability to pay." Women deserve better options.

Here's what you can do:

Find out what is happening in Michigan regarding life issues. Spend time exploring Right to Life of Michigan at www.RTL.org.

Get involved with a local prolife group. Prolife people represent a broad spectrum of the community, we are people of different ages, from a variety of religious denominations, with diverse educational, economic, political and occupational backgrounds. The principles that unify us are our belief in the need to restore civil rights to the unborn child and to oppose the taking of innocent life through abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, assisted suicide and the destruction of human embryos for research. Find a local group near you and join with others in being a voice for those without one.